CHAP. ii.j DAVID GAE1UCK.

be hoped that Mr. Peter was able to read thus far with 1759.
reasonable patience ; but, if he had opened his old friend's Mi. 31.
letter first (as David, who no doubt suggested it, seems to
have reckoned on his doing), one may imagine the nervous
haste with which he now took up another letter that had
travelled to him by the same post, superscribed in the
well-known hand of brother David himself.

It began by telling "Dear Peter" that he had received
his shirt safe, , and was now to tell Mm what he sup-
poses he may already have heard; but before he lets him
into the affair, it was proper to premise some tilings that
the writer may appear less culpable in his brother's opinion
than he might otherwise do. He has made an exact estimate
of his stock of wine, and what money he has out at interest;
and finds that since he has been a wine-merchant he has run
out near four hundred pounds, and, trade not increasing, he
became very sensible some way must be thought of to
redeem it. Then out ventures a weakness never before
confessed. " My mind (as you must know) has been always
" inclined to ye Stage, nay so strongly so that all my Illness
" and lowness of Spirits was owing to my want of resolution
" to tell you my thoughts when here. Finding at last both
" my Inclination and Interest requir'd some new way of Life,
" I have chose ye most agreeable to myself, and though
" I know you will be much displeas'd at me, yet I hope
" when you shall find that I may have ye genius of an Actor
" without ye vices you will think less severe of me, and not
" be ashamed to own me for a Brother." After this appeal
to the fraternal sympathies he falls back on business again.
He is willing to agree to anything Peter shall propose about
the wine. He will take a thorough survey of the vaults, and
making what Peter has at Lichfield part of the stock, will to keep of the Stage so long." It is to; but she has life." Cott. Lett. i. 84.